Visceral Fat, Guilty of Systemic Inflammation

If you have to be fat, it’s a far, far better thing to be fat in places other than your belly. Visceral fat, the kind deep inside the abdomen that inextricably surrounds internal organs, is an organ in itself, secreting hormones and active molecules, called cytokines, which are bad for your health.

Now a study from the Washington University School of medicine in St. Louis, published in February 2007 Diabetes, has shown that visceral fat secretes molecules that increase system-wide inflammation.

The study involved 25 obese patients who were undergoing gastric bypass surgery. Since the researchers couldn’t remove their visceral fat, which was entangled in intestines and other organs, they sampled blood from the portal vein, which drains the visceral fat. They found that portal vein blood had levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory molecule, 50 times higher than blood from the radial artery of the arm. Clearly, the visceral fat was secreting high levels of IL-6 into the portal vein blood.

Increased levels of IL-6 in the portal vein are associated with high concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the body. High CRP levels are related to inflammation. Chronic inflammation is associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, and may also be implicated in cancer and aging.

The lesson here? Ban the belly fat! Walk a little more, eat a little less, and eradicate that visceral fat.

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Greetings from Nadia

A few facts about me in case you are new to my column and site.

My life in the diabetes community started at a young age as the secret keeper of my maternal and paternal Grandmothers. They both had type 2 diabetes and my days spent alone with them exposed me to their misunderstanding of how their diabetes really affected them. Eating candy bars, hiding the candy wrappers and smoking cigarettes seemed innocent enough to them. A decade later I married a type 1 person living with diabetes and experienced the full court of the diabetes spectrum with my type 2 family members and type 1 husband of almost 20 years.

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My grandmothers, the type 2 have struggled with their diabetes as long as I could remember. Later my mother followed in her mother’s footsteps. Sadly, my brother followed in my mother’s footsteps and experienced an early passing at the age of 53. My brother Jamal’s passing had the greatest impact on me. Probably because were the Irish twins; eleven months apart and his departure devastated me.

As I tell most people, diabetes is not a glamorous profession. Most people that work in the industry have a personal connection. This is why I am still here publishing after 26 years.

On the flip side of the coin, helping and inspiring people is my mission. I understand the daily challenges you face regardless of your education, IQ and economic circumstance. I am not a healthcare professional. Simply a lay person who has lived with a Type 1 and Type 2 family member who struggled with their disease. My former Type 1 husband was a role model in how to manage your diabetes, while my intelligent family members were role models on how an invisible disease can be misunderstood, devastating the quality of their life while leaving heart broken family members behind.

The perils of my experience have taught me to never judge anyone. As knowledgeable as I am, I also realize that I have no idea of the strings that pull at each person heart.

What I love about the diabetes community?

Once I meet someone and we share that we have a common experience; their diabetes and my life long experience as a care taker, we tend to have an instant bond. Think about it. How many people do you meet who you feel really get you right after your introduction? The conversations that follow tend to be very personal. Not a common experience with all strangers.

AskNadia Column

I started this column because where ever I go, people tend to ask me a lot of diabetes questions.

My answers are my opinions and it is not to be replaced by your healthcare professional’s opinion. The answers to your question in most cases will include research and other links to give you a borader perspective on your question.